Take a Break to Read -- It's Summer!

Summer is the perfect time to grab a book and read for fun!  So take a break, grab one of these teen books, and spend some time reading this summer . . . .

This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

Rose and her parents have been going to Awago Beach since she was a little girl. It's her summer getaway, her refuge. Her friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had, completing her summer family. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and Rose and Windy have gotten tangled up in a tragedy-in-the-making. It's a summer of secrets and heartache, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

The Summer of Lost Letters by Hannah Reynolds

The discovery of a packet of old letters sends seventeen-year-old Abby Schoenberg to Nantucket to unravel a family mystery about her grandmother's past, but things get complicated when Abby meets the cute grandson of a prominent family who wants to stop her from investigating.

The Many Lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer

When seventeen-year-old Spark takes a summer job working at a secluded house in England, organizing journals that span centuries and all written in the same hand, she discovers her true connection to the people who live there and the trait that makes them unique.

More Books --

99 Days by Katie Cotugno

Getting Over Max Cooper by Marcelle Karp

Golden Boys by Phil Stamper
It Started With Goodbye by Christina June

Just Kill Me by Adam Selzer

The Lightning Circle by Vikki VansSickle

One or Two Things I Learned About Love by Dyan Sheldon
Say Yes Summer by Lindsey Roth Culli

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares

Summer Constellations by Alisha Sevigny

This Place Is Still Beautiful by Xixi Tian

Under a Dancing Star by Laura Wood

You're Not Supposed to Die Tonight by Kalynn Bayron

If You Lemony Snicket . . .

 Lemony Snicket has written two great series -- The Series of Unfortunate Events and All the Wrong Questions -- as well as several standalone books.  But what should you read after reading all of her books?  Try one of these great read-alikes for Lemony Snicket . . . .

The Problim Children by Natalie Lloyd

Seven siblings are forced by the destruction of their swamp home to move into their grandpa's mansion, but greedy neighbors plot to steal their secrets and place them in homes far away from each other.

Which Witch? by Eva Ibbotson

Deciding that he must sire a child to carry on his tradition of Loathing Light and Blighting the Beautiful, the Great Wizard Arriman announces a competition among the witches of Todcaster, one of whom will marry him.

The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Shouldn't we be orphans?" one of the Willoughby children suggests one day. The four are, after all, part of an old-fashioned kind of family, and their parents--well, their parents are not all that one would hope for. So they concoct a diabolical plot to turn themselves into worthy and winsome orphans. Little do they know that Mr. and Mrs. Willoughby have already begun to formulate their own thoroughly despicable plan inspired by another favorite bedtime story: the tale of Hansel and Gretel. 

Horton Halfpott by Tom Angleberger

Horton, an upstanding kitchen boy in a castle in nineteenth-century England, becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding a series of thefts, which is also connected to the pursuit of a very eligible and wealthy young lady's affections.

More Books --

Bad Magic by Pseudonymous Bosch

The Crims by Kate Davies

The House With a Clock in Its Walls by John Bellairs

The Magnificent Monsters of Cedar Street by Lauren Oliver

The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette For Young Ladies of Mad Science by Kate McKinnon

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

The Swifts by Beth Lincoln

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea by Ellis Weiner

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken

Super Stories

 Superhero Stories aren't just for little kids!  Superheroes are a popular fandom for all ages.  This week, we're sharing some superhero stories for teens.

Runaways: The Complete Collection, v.1 by Brian K. Vaughan

They were six normal teenagers linked only by their wealthy parents' annual business meeting ... until a chance discovery revealed the shocking truth: their parents are the secret criminal society known as the Pride. For years, the Pride controlled all criminal activity in Los Angeles, ruling the city with an iron fist ... and now, with their true natures exposed, the Pride will take any measures necessary to protect their organization--even if it means taking out their own children. Now on the run from their villainous parents, Nico, Chase, Karolina, Gertrude, Molly and Alex have only each other to rely on.

The Supervillain and Me by Danielle Banas

Living in a world where superheroes are obnoxious bullies, Abby is rescued from a mugging by a vigilante newcomer, a fledgling supervillain who tries to convince her that he is not as evil as reputed and that the city is under a dire threat.

Umbrella Academy: Young Blood by Alyssa B. Sheinmel

The Umbrella Academy has always been extraordinary--ready to leap to superpowered action at a moment’s notice. But now that Five has disappeared and their fame has crested, sometimes the only thing Luther, Diego, Allison, Klaus, Ben, and Viktor want is to be normal... which is much easier said than done, when you’re raised by someone like Hargreeves. For their exacting and tyrannical father figure, nothing is ever enough; which is why, during a dinnertime debriefing on their latest mission, Ben snaps, prompting Klaus to suggest that they all need a change of scenery--just one night of partying like a bunch of average teens. In fact, Klaus knows just the place; there’s a frat house in a neighboring college town that throws weekend blowouts. What could go wrong? 

More Books --

Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu

Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

How to Date a Superhero (And Not Die Trying) by Cristina Fernandez
Micheal Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans

Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, v.1 by Hideyuki Furuhashi

Renegades by Marissa Meyer

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Zatanna: The Jewel of Gravesend by Alys Arden

Zeroes by Scott Westerfeld

Let's Play!

 This week, we're sharing picture book stories about playing.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Corduroy has been on the department store shelf for a long time. Yet as soon as Lisa sees him, she knows that he's the bear she's always wanted. Her mother, though, thinks he's a little shopworn -- he's even missing a button! Still, Corduroy knows that with a bit of work he can tidy himself up and be just the bear for Lisa. And where better to start than with a quick search through the department store for a new button!

My Friend Rabbit by Eric Rohmann

Something always seems to go wrong when Rabbit is around, but Mouse lets him play with his toy plane anyway because he is his good friend.

Invasion of the Unicorns by David Biedrzycki

Secret agent Bubble07 has an undercover mission: to infiltrate the home of an Earthling Family and decide whether an army of alien unicorns should invade planet Earth. Danger follows in the form of dog slobber, tea parties, and show-and-tell. Will Bubble07 be forced to give up and call for backup? Or will this fluffy alien's heart be won over by story time and snuggles.

Where Is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley

A little boy and his best friend, an actual bear, go on a search for a teddy bear before bedtime.

Found by Salina Yoon

Upon finding a toy rabbit in the forest, Bear tries his very best to return it to its home but by the time its owner appears, Bear has become attached to Bunny.

More Books --

The Boy Who Wouldn't Share by Mike Reiss

Crybaby by Karen Beaumont

Dino-Grow by Matt Myers

Doll-E 1.0 by Shanda McCloskey

Don't Lose Mr. Cuddles! by Dav Petty

Eat Pete! by Michael Rex

The Epic Adventures of Huggie and Stick by Drew Daywalt

A Fire Engine for Ruthie by Leslea Newman

I Love You, Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chichester Clark

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Little Whistle's Dinner Party by Cynthia Rylant

Louis by Tom Lichtenheld

Miss Mouse's Day by Jan Ormerod

Monkey and Me by Emily Gravett

Puppy Truck by Brian Pinkney

Mr. Wuffles by David Wiesner

Ten Rules of Being a Superhero by Deb Pilutti

Toys Galore by Peter Stein

Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins

Traction Man by Mini Grey

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night by Refe & Amy Tuma

Ocean -- 4/14/26

Story Times are held weekly on Monday and Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am. A monthly virtual Story Time is posted the first Tuesday of the month on the library's Facebook page.  It is available to view for one month before the next video is posted.

Click HERE for this month's virtual Story Time.

Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone
I'm the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
I Need Pants! by Susan Sweet

Books:
How to Put an Octopus to Bead by Sherri Duskey Rinker
I'm the Best Artist in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry
Milo Is Missing Something by Vern Kousky
Ocean Animals from Head to Tail by Stacey Roderick
Sharky McShark by Alison Murray

Craft: Squid

- Print template onto cardstock or heavy paper

- Cut out squid's head

- Cut four 5" pieces of crepe paper and one 4" piece of crepe paper

- Cut all five strips of crepe paper in half longways

- Glue strips to bottom of squid's head as tentacles

Extension Activities:

- Secret Seahorse includes a hidden seahorse in each spread to try to find.  Hold an ocean scavenger hunt by hiding ocean animal stuffies or printing our pictures of ocean animals to tape up.  Then have your child(ren) find the ocean animals.

- I Need Pants! imagines a fish and octopus in clothes.  Discuss which clothes would best fit the different ocean animals.  Draw pictures of what that would look like.

Template --

National Poetry Month

Every April we celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing poetry books.  This April, read one of these great novels in verse for teens . . . .

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

Seven teens facing such problems as pregnancy, closeted homosexuality, and abuse each describe in poetic forms what caused them to leave home and where they found home again.

Spin by Rebecca Caprara

Arachne is ostracized by all but her family and closest friend, Celandine. Turning to her loom for solace, Arachne learns to weave, finding her voice and her strength through the craft. After the tragic loss of her family, Arachne challenges Athena, and a fateful weaving contest ensues, resulting in an exposé of divine misdeeds, a shocking transformation, and unexpected redemption.

Miles Morales: Suspended by Jason Reynolds
Miles Morales is still just your average teenager. He has unexpectedly become totally obsessed with poetry and can never seem to do much more than babble around his crush. Nothing too weird. Oh! Except, just yesterday, he used his spidey superpowers to save the world (no biggie) from an evil mastermind called The Warden.


More Novels in Verse for Teens --

19 Love Songs by David Levithan

Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia Cole

Facing the Enemy by Barbara Krasner

Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Jazz Owls by Margarita Engle

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson

Nothing Burns As Bright As You by Ashley Woodfolk

Ode to My First Car by Robin Gow

One Step Forward by Marcie Flinchum Atkins

Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams by Shari Green

Voices: The Final Hours of Joan of Arc by David Elliott

Wave by Diana Farid

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

The Magical World of Unicorns

What could be more magical than unicorns?  Enjoy one of these great unicorn stories . . . .

Punycorn by Andi Watson

Carbuncle is a land of endless rainbows and sugar-sprinkled doughnuts--until the vile Sir Ogre unleashes his evil army on the happy kingdom. Who can stop his outsized appetite for destruction? Punycorn! Who? Punycorn. The smallest, clumsiest, and, yes, puniest of all the unicorns. Punycorn may not look like a hero, but aided by a fireless dragon, a feisty dung beetle, and a magic sword with a hidden secret, he might just be Carbuncle's only hope!

The Rescue of the Unicorn by Deborah Lerme Goodman

You make the journey across the ocean to Scotland, and vow to protect your unicorn from danger in these new, strange lands. Will the unicorn's magic reach those who need it most, or will it be stolen by the greedy and violent people who know its full power?  One you can decide how the story ends.

Bad Unicorn by Platte F. Clark

Max Spencer is an underachiever but when a carnivorous unicorn, Princess the Destroyer, and an evil wizard, Rezormoor, bring him, the only one who can read the legendary Codex of Infinite Knowability, to their magical realm, he must find the courage to save himself, his friends, and the entire human race.

More Unicorn Books --

Even and Odd by Sarah Beth Durst

Gotta Warn the Unicorns by Nancy Krulik

How to Save a Unicorn by Meg Cannistra

Leona the Unicorn Fairy by Daisy Meadows

The Order of the Unicorn by Suzanne Selfors

Phoebe and Her Unicorn series by Dana Simpson

A Plague of Unicorns by Jane Yolen

Save the Unicorns by Helen Perelman

Unicorn Boy by Dave Roman

Tangled Magic by Kamilla Benko

The Unicorn's Spell by Cort Lane

Strong & Independent: Female Characters in Teen Books

This March, read one of these teen books featuring strong and independent female characters in honor of Women's History Month . . . .

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Eldest of three sisters in a land where it is considered to be a misfortune, Sophie is resigned to her fate as a hat shop apprentice until a witch turns her into an old woman and she finds herself in the castle of the greatly feared wizard Howl.

Terrier by Tamora Pierce

When sixteen-year-old Beka becomes "Puppy" to a pair of "Dogs," as the Provost's Guards are called, she uses her police training, natural abilities, and a touch of magic to help them solve the case of a murdered baby in Tortall's Lower City.

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski
An aristocratic girl who is a member of a warmongering and enslaving empire purchases a slave, an act that sets in motion a rebellion that might overthrow her world as well as her heart.


More Books --

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Damsel by Elana K. Arnold

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Fire by Kristin Cashore

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadano

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Legendborn by Tracy Deonn

Maximum Ride by James Patterson

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett

Silly Stories for Young Readers

We love books that make us laugh!  They tend to be some of our favorite books.  Check out these silly picture books . . . .

Cowlick! by Christin Ditchfield

A fanciful account of how two boys get cowlicks in their hair as they sleep. She comes in the middle of the night, when everyone is sleeping. When she sees a smooth little head on a pillow, she can't resist giving it a cow kiss--sluuurrrp! Cowlick!

Hello Hot Dog! by Lily Murray

Hot Dog is having a good day until he realizes it is time for lunch.

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak

You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except . . . here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say . . . BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY.

My Rhinoceros by Jon Agee

A rhinoceros does only two things: pop balloons and poke holes in kites. But rhinoceroses can really do more--so much more--than that!

More Silly Books --

Bark, George! by Jules Feiffer

Chicken Cheeks by Michael Ian Black

The Cows Are Going to Paris by David Kirby

Dandy by Ame Dyckman

Did You Take the B From My _ook? by Beck Stanton

Don't Feed the Coos by Jonathan Stutzman

Dragons Eat Noodles on Tuesdays by Jon Stahl

Ducks Don't Wear Socks by John Nedwidek

Fall Is Not Easy by Marty Kelley

Falling for Rapunzel by Leah Wilcox

Frog on a Log by Kes Gray 

I Can Only Draw Worms by Will Mabbitt

Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein

Is Everyone Ready for Fun? by Jan Thomas

Mail Harry to the Moon! by Robie H. Harris

Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos

Norman, the Slug With a Silly Shell by Sue Hendra

People Don't Bite People by Lisa Wheeler

Silly Tilly by Eileen Spinelli

Squids Will Be Squids by Jon Scieszka

What Does an Anteater Eat? by Ross Collins

What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night? by Amy and Refe Tuma

Zombie in Love by Kelly DiPucchio

Game On! Sports Stories for Teens

Check out some of these great sports stories for teens.  Here are a few of our favorites . . . .

Check, Please! series by Ngozi Ukazo
Eric Bittle, an ex-junior figure skating champion turned college hockey player learns to cope with the contact sport--and his feelings towards Jack, his attractive team captain.

Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan

The boys of Kings Row are assigned a course of team building exercises to deepen their bonds. It takes a shoplifting scandal, a couple of moonlit forest strolls, and a whole lot of introspection for the team to realize they are stronger together than they could ever be apart.

Out of Our League: 16 Stories of Girls in Sports edited by Dahlia Adler & Jennifer Iacopelli

A YA anthology from editors Dahlia Adler and Jennifer Iacopelli about the trials and triumphs of girls in sports.

More Books --

Brawler by Neil Connelly

Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli

Call Me By My Name by John Ed Bradley

Game Change by Joseph Monninger

Game On edited by Laura Silverman

Gut Check by Eric Kester

Gutless by Carl Deuker

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert

Home Field Advantage by Dahlia Adler

Kneel by Candace Buford

Swagger by Carl Deuker

Won't You Be My Valentine?

 Get in the mood for Valentine's Day with one of these chapter book stories . . . .

Babymouse: Heartbreaker by Jennifer Holm

Valentine's Day is Babymouse's favorite holiday, but this year there's going to be a dance and Babymouse is desperate to find a date for it.

Goblin Market by Diane Zahler

In this story inspired by Polish folklore, two sisters face a goblin prince in the dark forest.

Noah Frye Gets Crushed by Maggie Horne

Noah Frye comes up with a foolproof plan to teach herself how to have a crush on a boy to fit in better with her friends--only to discover she's been looking in the wrong place, and her crush was right beside her all along.

More Books --

Aphrodite the Beauty by Joan Holub

Captain Awesome Gets Crushed by Stan Kirby

Heart-to-Heart with Mallory by Laurie B. Friedman

Junie B. Jones and the Mushy Gushy Valentine by Barbara Park

The Malted Falcon by Bruce Hale

Valentine's Day From the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Worst Love Spell Ever by Wanda Coven

The Dead Parents Society

This week, we're sharing teen books featuring orphans.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

 

Fruits Basket series by Natsuki Takaya
After a family tragedy turns her life upside down, high schooler Tohru Honda takes matters into her own hands and moves out ... into a tent! Unfortunately for her, she pitches her new home on private land belonging to the mysterious Sohma clan, and it isn't long before the owners discover her secret. But, as Tohru quickly finds out when the family offers to take her in, the Sohmas have a secret of their own -- when touched by the opposite sex, they turn into the animals of the Chinese Zodiac!

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
After the death of the uncle who had been his guardian, fourteen-year-old Alex Rider is coerced to continue his uncle's dangerous work for Britain's intelligence agency, MI6.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place-he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings-such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him. Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?


More Books --
The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World by Amy Reed
Burden Falls by Kat Ellis
Forbidden by Eve Bunting
The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry
If the Witness Lied by Caroline B. Cooney
The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James
My Life With the Walter Boys by Ali Novak
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
The Orphan's Wish by Melanie Dickerson
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Promised Neverland series by Kaiu Shirai
The Reader by Traci Chee
Snow and Poison by Melissa de la Cruz

Animal Books Aren't Just for Little Kids

Do you love animals?  Want a good animal story to read?  Try one of these teen books featuring animals . . . .

Creepy Cat, v.1 by Cotton Valent

Flora moves into a mysterious mansion and finds it inhabited by a strange creature -- Creepy Cat! Thus begins her strange and sometimes dangerous life with a feline roommate.

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

Bored with her proper, circumscribed life as a princess, Cimorene runs away to join a powerful, fascinating dragon named Kazul and encounters a host of adventures along the way.

Gather by Kenneth M. Cadow

Ian Gray isn't supposed to have a dog, but a lot of things that shouldn't happen end up happening anyway. And Gather, Ian's adopted pup, is good company now that Ian has to quit the basketball team, find a job, and take care of his mom as she tries to overcome her opioid addiction. 

More Books --

Ash's Cabin by Jen Wang

Cat + Gamer series by Wataru Nadatani

Charming as a Verb by Ben Philippe

The Electric Kingdom by David Arnold

Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Me and Mr. Cigar by Gibby Haynes

What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold

Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce

Time Travel Tales

Start the new year off with a bang!  Read one of these tales about traveling through time.  Here's a few of our favorites . . . .

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Meg Murry and her friends become involved with unearthly strangers and a search for Meg's father, who has disappeared while engaged in secret work for the government.

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

When thirteen-year-olds Jonah and Chip, who are both adopted, learn they were discovered on a plane that appeared out of nowhere, full of babies with no adults on board, they realize that they have uncovered a mystery involving time travel and two opposing forces, each trying to repair the fabric of time.

The Homeward Bounders by Diana Wynne Jones

Once he becomes a pawn in a game played by a powerful group he calls "Them," twelve-year-old Jamie is repeatedly catapulted through space and time.

More Books --

The Bookshop of Dust and Dreams by Mindy Thompson

The Doll in the Garden by Mary Downing Hahn

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua Levy

The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove

Joplin Wishing by Diane Stanley

Larklight by Philip Reeve

The Lincoln Project by Dan Gutman

The Mona Lisa Key by Liesl Shurtliff

Stealing the Sword by Wendy Mass

The T.Rex Attack by Rex Stone

This Again by Adam Borba

The Time Travel Twins by James Patterson